What Happens When a Believer Dies? 2 Corinthians 5 Explained

Hello and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick. Good to see everybody again today, and for those of you joining us out in television, this is another afternoon of taping four programs, and I always like to remind our viewing audience that for four weeks you're going to see everybody sitting in the same place. It isn't that they're that meticulous about where they sit, but we do tape four programs in an afternoon, and if you're ever in the Tulsa area, for goodness sakes call us and be a part of our taping of these programs. We meet the first Wednesday of the first week of every month, and if you're going to be in this area that time, why don't you just give us a call, and we'd love to have you come in and be a part of this. Again, we always like to remind our viewing audience that all the past programs are available on videotape, audiotapes and the printed page, and we've kept the cost as nominal as we can so that anyone can afford them. So if you're interested in any of that, just give us a call or drop us a note, and we'll send the information out to you. Our whole scope of teaching is to simply help people to study on their own, be able to read and understand what the Bible is all about. So we are currently in Paul's epistles, and we are now in II Corinthians chapter 5. In our last program we left off down there at verse 9, where Paul has just been dealing with the fact that as soon as a believer dies, and I've had that question come in so often. The moment, the second that a believer passes off the scene, and their soul and spirit leaves the body, it goes immediately into the presence of the Lord. Now what their activity is, and what their state is at this point in time, I'm in no position to say, because the Bible is fairly silent. All we know is that they are in the Lord's presence, and they're waiting for the great Resurrection Day, which of course we studied several weeks ago when we were in I Corinthians chapter 5. Now of course the only thing I can do to temper our thinking on this, is that in eternity there is no time, and so even though Adam has been dead 6 ,000 years, when the Resurrection Day comes, he won't suddenly realize that he's been off the scene that long, but it'll be just as if it's happened within a matter of hours, because time is irrelevant. So always keep that in mind, that when our departed loved ones will be reunited with us, it isn't that they're going to suddenly realize what a long time it's been. I think one writer put it this way, and I may have shared it on the program before. It's just like if you take one of your loved ones to the train depot, that was back of course when trains were in vogue, and if you took someone to the train and they got on one of the front cars, and got them all situated, but air the train pulled out of the station, you decided to quickly go buy a ticket, and you get on one of the cars at the end of the train. Well without one knowing it from the other, you're both going to arrive at the same destination at the same time, and that may be a crude way of putting it, but I think that's what it's going to be. Even though our loved ones have left maybe years ago, and then suddenly when the Resurrection day comes, or the Rapture as we're looking forward to it, and we meet our loved ones, it won't be like, I haven't seen you in 20, 30, 40 years. It's going to be like we just saw them 5 minutes ago. And so all these things enter into these events that are going to happen, and so I think a lot of times we probably make it more difficult than it really is. But anyway, Paul has now been dealing with the departure of the soul and spirit from the body, which puts us of course present with the Lord. And then in verse 9 where we ended in our last program, wherefore we labor, that whether present or absent, that's beside the point, that's moot. Whether we're still here on this world, or whether we've gone on to be with the Lord, whether we're present or absent, we may be approved, because we're not dealing with salvation here at all. And this is the whole thing that I want to emphasize in this next few moments, is that in these verses dealing with believers, I almost say from verse 1-13, He is not dealing with salvation whatsoever. It is totally in the area of reward for our living here in this life as believers. And of course that's the admonition then to a believer, is that we're not just saved to escape hell fire, we are saved to serve. And that's why He leaves us here. In fact as I was driving up just a moment ago, I couldn't help but think of even the 12. Come back all the way into Christ's earthly ministry, and that would have to be back in Matthew chapter 19, and we touched on this of course when we were back in the Book of Acts or some place. But anyway as we come up through the Scriptures we repeat, and I know we repeat, but I keep getting letters all the time, almost every day from people saying, don't ever apologize for repeating, because that's the way we learn. But here in Matthew chapter 19, the 12 have been with Jesus now for almost the whole three years. They have their salvation, and they're not talking about that whatsoever, that is the leaven do, we're not counting Judas. But in verse 27 of Matthew chapter 19, Peter answered and said unto Jesus, Matthew 19. And the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, and you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." Now what was that? That's their reward for having served Him so diligently during those three years of His earthly ministry. It had nothing to do with their salvation, but it had everything to do with what are they going to have for it all. Now if you'll come back with me to II Corinthians chapter 5, we've got the same concept now for you and I as members of the Body of Christ." Paul is not dealing with our salvation, he is dealing with reward. Now back to II Corinthians chapter 5, and then verse 10, where Paul writes we must all appear before the bema seat. Now I often wish that the King James translators wouldn't have used the word judgment, I think it scares people. But the Greek word is bema, and we must all appear before the bema seat. And in the Greek that's what it is, it's bema. Most of you I think know that the bema was usually just a raised platform. If you go to the ruins of Corinth that's one of the tourist attractions, you go to the bema there in ancient Corinth, and all it was was just a raised platform, not much higher than the one I'm using. And the party to be judged of course would stand in front of the judges who were on the bema seat. But it was also used in the Olympic games for the seat of the judges who would determine who came in first, second, third, and so forth. So this is the analogy that I think Paul is more apt to have in mind is the Olympics rather than the political situation at the bema seat of government. So looking at it from an Olympic sports event scenario, we must all appear before the bema seat not to be judged for our sin. Oh listen, I can't stress that enough because you have no idea how many people over the years have said, Am I going through all these trials and tribulations because of sin in my past? Well the first thing I ask them is, Are you a believer? Are you a child of God? Oh yeah, I know I'm saved. Well then where do you get this idea that you still have sin on your back? Well I don't know. Well I don't either, because it's not in this Book. You do not carry past sins because they have been judged at the cross. Now let's look at a few verses. Turn over to the right a few pages to Ephesians chapter 4 verse 32. I tell my classes here in Oklahoma every once in a while that someday I'm going to walk into that buzzsaw that's going to almost kill me, and that is turn to a verse and can't find it. But here it is in Ephesians chapter 4 verse 32. Ephesians 4 verse 32. Ephesians 4 and be ye kind one to another. Now remember in this Book of Ephesians Paul again is addressing believers, but on a higher level than he has even the Corinthians. Remember the Books of Paul are progressive. We move from the simplistic to the more in depth and those things that are more doctrinal. So here he says to these believers at Ephesus, Ephesians 4 verse 32. Ephesians 4 and be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, not so that you can be forgiven. See that's what the disciples prayer says back in Matthew. You have to forgive everybody before you can be forgiven. See that difference? Oh it's a vast difference. But that's not what Paul writes. Paul says, be ready to forgive your neighbor, because you have already been forgiven. See the concept? Forgiving one another, even as God in Christ's sake has forgiven you. Now that doesn't just take you up to a certain point in time, that means now and forever you're forgiven. Let's carry it a little further to the right. Go to Colossians chapter 2, and my the Scripture doesn't lie. It cannot, and we have to believe it, because this is what God is going to hold us accountable for. Do you believe My Word? And He calls that faith, and without faith it's impossible to please Him. See it all just rolls together. Colossians 2 and you Paul writes, being dead in your sins, that is in our pre-salvation existence, and the uncircumcision of your flesh, regarding pagan Gentiles. He has quickened together with Him, when Christ died, we died, when He arose from the dead, we arose to newness of life, and so He has made us alive together with Him, having forgiven you, most of your trespasses, every last one that we did commit, are committing, and will commit. They are already forgiven. I stressed in our last series of four programs a month ago, how when Christ died, how much of the world's sins did He die for? All of them. He tasted death for every man, and I'm going to keep repeating it. I want people to know that if they go out into a lost eternity, it wasn't because their sins weren't taken care of, it won't be because the atoning blood wasn't for them, it's because they rejected it in unbelief. And make people realize that their sin debt is paid in full, but God can't activate that payment until they believe the Gospel. See that's the kicker, we have to believe before we can appropriate this forgiveness. But for those of us who believe, we are totally forgiven. Now let's go across the page to Colossians chapter 3, and again it's that same concept that we are forgiven. Now here's one I'm not going to find, I guess I got my new Bible and I had it underlined in my old one, and I'm not going to find it. Well like they always say, those are the things that keep you humble. Now verse 13 is almost the same thing of Colossians 3. Colossians 3 "...forbearing one another, forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any, even as Christ forgave you, so also do you." Now I know there's another verse in here that exactly like chapter 2 says, that we are forgiven all of our sins and our trespasses. Now if you'll come back with me then to chapter 5, when we come before the bema seat, or the judgment seat of Christ, it isn't that we're going to have to face our sin, because they are taken care of. They're forgiven, they're canceled. So we come before Him now to be judged, if you want to use that word, for what we have done as believers in our earthly sojourn. And this is where it's all going to come together, and it's not going to be so much on how much we have done, as the motivation behind what we have done. Why do we do the things that we do? In other words, if the only reason I taught was to show people what I know, it would count for nothing. It has to be the right motive, and so everything we do has to be done in that light. Am I doing it because I love the Lord? Am I doing it that He'll receive the glory? Then it will count for reward. If we're doing it to show people how much we can accomplish, it will count for nothing. It will be nothing more than wood, hay and stubble. Reading on in II Corinthians chapter 5 verse 10. "...for we must all appear before the beam of seat of Christ, that every one, that is every believer, there will be no unbelievers at this judgment seat. This is only for believers, that everyone may receive the thing done in his body, according to that which he hath done, whether it be good or bad. And knowing therefore the terror, or the fear of the Lord, we persuade men. But we are made manifest unto God, and I trust also are made manifest in your conscience." So this whole concept of working for reward, we're going to just spend this half hour in it, and I'd like to have you come back with me now to I Corinthians chapter 3. We covered it quite in depth several months ago, but let's look at it again. It's the same idea that he has here in II Corinthians chapter 3, beginning with verse 12. I Corinthians chapter 3 verse 12. Now if any man, it's the same kind of language, there's nobody left out, there's no exclusions. So if any believer builds upon this foundation, which of course up in verse 11 is Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. If any man builds upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or stubble, everyone's work shall be made manifest. And I always use the word puts in the spotlight for that word manifest. So every believer's work is going to be put in the spotlight, and the very fiery eyes of the Lord Jesus are going to examine everything that we've done as believers. And we can either have those things that the fire cannot touch, such as the gold, silver, and precious stones, or we'll have some of the stuff that goes up in a puff of smoke, wood, hay, and stubble. So that I think is pretty self explanatory, and that again is going to be primarily based on your motive. Why do we do the things that we categorize as good works? Is it just for pleasing the flesh? Is it to please someone else? Or is it strictly done for God's honor and glory? Now let's look at verse 13. Ephesians 1, and I always have to go back to that portion of Scripture in Revelation where the eyes of the Lord Jesus are as fire. It doesn't penetrate the works record of every believer. The stuff that was wood, hay, and stubble will disappear, and that which was gold, silver, and precious stones will remain. And from that we will receive a reward. Now let's look at verse 14. Ephesians 1, and I always have to go back to that portion of Scripture in Revelation where the eyes of the Lord Jesus are as fire. So if any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. That's what your Bible says, and that's what mine says, and you can't argue with that. Now I know a lot of people don't like that concept, but I'll never forget quite a few years ago I had a dear gentleman in my class who had been pastor of a large church in Chicago, and he came up one night after I had been teaching this very thing, and he said, "...lest teach it, and teach it, and teach it." He said, "...so few people understand this concept of reward for the believer." Absolutely we're going to receive a reward above and beyond our salvation, above and beyond the promises. We like to think of the streets paved with gold, and the mansions in glory, but that's not the reward. The reward is going to be something else, and I can't totally put my finger on it, but I'd like to think it's going to be places of responsibility in the heavenlies. I just noticed in the Daily Oklahoman this morning that the Hubble Space Telescope people have just found the largest star that has ever been dreamed of. It's just mind boggling. If I remember correctly the analogy was that that star puts out more energy and heat in a few moments than our sun does in a year. It's beyond comprehension. So whatever, that whole area of outer space is going to be the domain of the church age believer, because we are told that we're going to rule the heavenlies. Israel is going to have the earth, and we're going to give them that. But the believers of the church age, the Body of Christ, we are going to rule in the heavenlies. Now I think there's also going to be a certain amount of interfacing between those of us in our resurrected bodies and the millennial citizens who will be in flesh and blood. But whatever, there's going to be areas of reward that I want every believer to work for. You don't work for salvation, that is a gift. In fact let's go back to Romans chapter 6, because this is a concept that is so hard for a lot of people to overcome, because they've had it drummed into them since they were little, that they have to work, they have to do something for salvation. But Romans chapter 6 verse 23 just literally blows that out of the saddle. Romans 6 verse 23, and you all know the verse I'm sure. Romans 6 verse 23. Romans 6 verse 23. Now that's something you earn, the wages of sin is death, spiritual death. Yes it is. But the flip side, the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Now how much work can you do and still call it a gift? None. You can't work for something, and then call it a gift. And as soon as you work for it, it's no longer a gift, and so it is with salvation. It has to be something that we take totally as a gift of God without having to do any work of any kind. It's a gift of God, but once we've become recipients of that gift, what does God logically expect? That now we go to work, and work for reward. That's the whole idea. That we're not saved to sit, we're saved to serve, and that is going to all be brought about at that behemoth seat of Christ. Now another thing I don't want you to confuse rewards with are the crowns. Now I don't think the crowns have anything to do with the rewards that we receive from the behemoth seat. Now we know there are various crowns listed, the crown of righteousness, the crown of life, and so on and so forth. But don't confuse them with rewards. I don't think they're one and the same whatsoever. The rewards are those things that we're going to receive as a result of the things that we have done in the body in this earthly sojourn. And of course we know from our study back in Romans when Paul listed the gifted men that he gave to the church, not everybody has that same gift. They're not all going to work in that same area for their reward, but every believer has something. Don't ever lose that. I don't care who you are, I don't care how old you are, or how young you are. You have something that God has given you that can be used as a gift, and it in turn can precipitate your rewards. Now let's come back to I Corinthians chapter 9 where Paul alludes to this over and over, and this is by inspiration of the Holy Spirit remember. This isn't just man's idea, this is what God wants us to understand. I Corinthians chapter 9. Now it's been a long time since we were way back there, but beginning at verse 24 Paul writes again to Gentile believers, and he says, "...know ye not that they who run in a race all run, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain not salvation, but the prize." Now verse 25. "...every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things." Now he's alluding to the Olympic athletes, I know he is. So what did the athletes do? They trained, and they trained, and they trained. But they did it with temperateness, and they did not destroy their body with over training, nor on the other hand did they come flabby and in no condition to run the race. So with common sense and being temperate in all things, they prepared for these Olympic races. And so Paul is telling us the same thing. Now verse 25 reading on, "...they do it to obtain a corruptible crown." We all know what that was, it was just a wreath of leaves and so forth, and by the time they got home it was all dried up and good for nothing, but I suppose put between the bookshelves. So they did it for a corruptible crown, but we who are running a race, and we're running for reward, we are looking for an incorruptible crown, one that will never end. In other words once the Lord establishes our place of responsibility in the heavenlies for eternity, that's never going to end. It's going to be ours forever and ever and ever. And like I said I think in our last program if only more people could get a concept of eternity. Eternity is without end, and whatever reward we have earned we are going to enjoy for all eternity. 74552. That's Route 1, Box 760, Kinta, Oklahoma, 74552. Through the Bible with Les Feldick is viewer supported and your gift is appreciated. Thank you and be sure to tune in next time for Through the Bible with Les Feldick.